Sapphire: September’s Beautiful Birthstone

If you’re born in September, you’re one of the lucky ones who have the amazing Sapphire as your birthstone. Crisp and cool, it’s a beautiful way to ring in the autumn months. There’s a lot of history behind this fascinating gemstone and many facets to look for when shopping for the right one.

This incredible Vanna K sapphire ring featured here has a rare oval Ceylon Sapphire, weighing in at 9.91 carats. The radiant gem sits at the center of this 18K white gold ring, adorned with 4.20 carats of oval-shaped diamonds.

Below is information and buying tips for our lovely gem of the month.

HISTORY:

Sapphires are a long sought-after gemstone. They are mined in a variety of locations across the world, including the countries of Australia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and even right here in the USA.

In early Greece and Rome, kings and queens were convinced that blue sapphires protected their owners from envy and harm. Thus, Sapphires have long been associated with royalty and romance. This link became stronger in 1981, when Britain’s Prince Charles gave a blue sapphire engagement ring to Lady Diana Spencer. The link was then re-ignited in 2011 when their son Prince William gave the same ring to his now-wife, Dutchess Kate Middleton.

COLOR:

Sapphires are a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, copper or magnesium are what gives corundum a blue, yellow, purple, orange or green color. Obviously, the primary color associated with sapphires is the brilliant blue.

Blue sapphires are evaluated based upon the purity of their primary hue. Purple, violet and green are the most common secondary hues found in blue sapphires. Violet and purple are known to contribute to the overall beauty of the color, while green is widely considered to be distinctly negative. The color of the blue sapphires may be described as a vivid medium dark violet to a purplish blue. The color should not be overly dark, lest it negatively affect the gem’s brightness.

Other colors: Yellow and green sapphires are common. Pink sapphires are more rare. The pink deepens in color as the quantity of chromium increases. The deeper the pink, the higher the monetary value, as long as the color is tending towards that of red rubies. A minimum saturation must be met for it to be called a ruby. Otherwise, you have a beautiful pink sapphire. Sapphires also occur in shades of orange and brown. While this may seem unappealing for those who associate blue with the gemstone, the very rare natural padparadscha (pinkish orange) sapphires often draw higher prices than most of their blue counterparts.

CUT:
A sapphire’s cut is extremely important. It can make a huge difference in the beauty and brilliance. Your sapphire should reflect light back across the entire gem in a bright and lively way. To achieve the best overall color, maintain the best proportions, and retain the most weight possible, cutters focus on factors like color zoning, pleochroism, and the lightness or darkness of the gym.

Find the beautiful ring featured here and other amazing sapphire creations today at Vanna K.